Royal Variety performance TV recording hit by technical glitches

The Royal Variety Performance was hit by technical glitches that meant host
Peter Kay had to ad-lib for part of it.

Peter Kay was disappointed with the interference of the technical hitches (Picture: ITV)

Peter Kay joked filming of the event â which took place at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, Greater Manchester â had been ’20 minutes of entertainment dragged out over two-and-a-half hours’ and it featured the audience slow-clapping at the end.

During the second half of the spectacle, a public address system announcement told the £300-a-seat audience: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated, we have a technical problem but everything possible is being done. While we are addressing the problem, please welcome back to the stage, Peter Kay.’

When the 38-year-old star remerged to smooth things over, he joked: ‘Anyone got a screwdriver?’

Barry Manilow had to perform twice at the event â which was attended by artists Cee Lo Green, Tony Bennett, Pixie Lott, and Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowall â due to a sound problem that meant he was out of time with a backing track. Â

Earlier in the night during delays, Peter told the crowd: ‘Thanks for buying a ticket. Technically tonight you are my employers and judging by whatâs gone on I wish Iâd thrown a sickie.’

A spokesperson for ITV said: ‘There were some minor technical difficulties during the recording of the show but these will not affect the programme broadcast on ITV1.’